Pouring, forming, and backfilling

The concrete pour continues at the Athletic Performance Center with some of the lower level training room area completed most recently. Workers also are installing reinforcing steel in the second floor forms.  Meanwhile, backfill work continues at the site.

Powering their way to the finish

Red and yellow concrete trucks with drums spinning traveled up and down Maplewood and Glenwood avenues on March 4 delivering concrete for the east-west portion of the first floor deck of the Athletic Performance Center.

Workers using power trowels worked into the evening smoothing the concrete to put the finished sheen on the deck.  Meanwhile, the shoring scaffolding was put in place on the other half of the first floor that was poured several weeks ago. That scaffolding will support the form work for the second floor. So the structure continues to “grow.”

Starting to “grow”

The Athletic Performance Center is starting to “grow” out of the ground as workers are beginning to pour concrete for columns for the second floor. Within the next week or so, observers will see scaffolding appearing as this work continues. And, thanks to more moderate temperatures, concrete for the other half of the first floor will be poured within a week or two.

The big “hole” will begin to disappear also as workers have begun backfilling along the foundation on the Maplewood Street side of the project.

Concrete poured for first floor of new arena

About 600 cubic yards of concrete was poured for the first floor of the Athletic Performance Center on February 10.

Preparation work for the first delivery began at 5 a.m. The first truck was in position at 7 a.m., and the crew pouring the concrete delivered the last load about 4 p.m. The finishing crew completed work on the new deck slab at about 9:30 p.m. A total of 85 concrete trucks delivered 595 cubic yards of concrete to the site that day.

By the numbers -

• • Eleven men poured the concrete as it was pumped.
• • Two pump truck operators pumped the concrete.
• • Two technicians tested the concrete as it was delivered.
• • One ironworker observed the pour to monitor reinforcement positioning.
• • Two men below the formwork continuously checked the formwork elevation as it was filled with concrete.
• • One man installed embed attachment plates for the pre-cast wall panels.
• • One skid steer operator kept the ruts and mud cleared for the concrete trucks.
• • One crane operator lifted the truss screed over the column locations
• • Eight men and one woman finished the concrete.
• • One plumber monitored floor drain positioning.
• • One electrician monitored conduit positioning.

Project Overview

With a vision of transforming its campus and curriculum, Bradley launched a $150 million Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance at a gala event in April 2008.

A 4,200-seat athletic performance center and the Puterbaugh Men’s Basketball Practice Facility are under construction and are expected to be completed in the spring of 2010.

The athletic performance center will serve as the home court for women’s athletics, and function as a concert hall and convocation center. It will include state-of-the-art locker rooms, strength training, cardiovascular and whirlpool facilities as well as hospitality suites, a lounge, and a Hall of Fame to honor Bradley athletic legends.

The Puterbaugh Men’s Basketball Practice Facility will include study areas, weight rooms, lounges, and offices.

Welcome to Construction Updates

This website has been setup for you to follow the progress of various campus construction projects here. We’ll provide photos and video of significant developments as they occur.  Check back often.